Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Jun 7: Doctors and researchers in Bihar have raised concerns over increasing exposure to contaminated groundwater and worsening air quality, warning that environmental factors may be contributing to a growing burden of cancer and other serious illnesses across the state.

According to the Bihar Economic Survey 2024-25, groundwater in nearly 26 per cent of rural wards across 31 of Bihar's 38 districts is contaminated with arsenic, fluoride and iron. The survey estimates that around 30,207 rural wards are affected by unsafe drinking water, including 4,709 wards with arsenic contamination, 3,789 with fluoride contamination and 21,709 with excessive iron levels.

Public health experts warn that long-term consumption of contaminated groundwater can increase the risk of several diseases, including cancer, depending on the type and concentration of pollutants and the duration of exposure.

Arsenic remains a major concern, with the World Health Organization classifying it as a carcinogen. Medical studies have linked prolonged arsenic exposure to higher risks of skin, bladder and lung cancers. Researchers have also reported arsenic levels exceeding recommended limits in several parts of Bihar, raising concerns over long-term health impacts on communities dependent on groundwater.

Air pollution is emerging as another significant health threat. Experts note that fine particulate matter such as PM2.5 can penetrate deep into the lungs, trigger inflammation and damage DNA, increasing the risk of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses.

Seven Bihar cities — Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Chapra, Saharsa and Araria — were listed among some of the world's most polluted cities. Patna's average PM2.5 concentration was reported to be nearly 10 times higher than the WHO guideline level, driven by vehicle emissions, construction dust, waste burning and industrial activity.

Researchers have also identified household air pollution as a significant health risk, particularly for women. A study conducted by the Asian Development Research Institute and Mahavir Cancer Sansthan documented lung cancer cases among 1,637 non-smoking women in Bihar between 2015 and 2023.

The study linked the increased risk to prolonged exposure to smoke from biomass fuels such as wood and coal used for cooking, along with poor kitchen ventilation.

Dr Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, director of Mahavir Vatsalya Aspatal, said environmental pollution directly affects internal body functions and is contributing to a rise in asthma and bronchial disorders, including among younger people.

Senior cancer surgeon Dr V P Singh said contaminated air, water and chemically affected food items are increasingly contributing to cancer cases. He identified air pollution as a major factor behind lung cancer and warned that arsenic and other heavy metals in groundwater could raise the risk of liver, bladder, stomach and skin cancers.